The Didache

[Ioustinos]

Hi folks!

I was wanting to know what the Reformed view was concerning the Didache. Is it viewed as a trustworthy piece of historical and ecclesiastical document? The reason I ask is because a friend of mine were discussing this topic and it was his understanding that the Didache was grouped together with the Gnostic works.

Thanks

Justin

 

[heymikey80]

Hi folks!

I was wanting to know what the Reformed view was concerning the Didache. Is it viewed as a trustworthy piece of historical and ecclesiastical document? The reason I ask is because a friend of mine were discussing this topic and it was his understanding that the Didache was grouped together with the Gnostic works.

Thanks

Justin

Well, I haven't seen an indication that the Didache is a Gnostic work. It's a prescriptive text for how the church worshipped and practiced in the First Century. It's not some wild document, you can find it online in translation here: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-lightfoot.html

 

[lmnop9876]

i think the Didache is a pretty trustworthy account of late first-century, early 2nd century Christian practice and worship. it also includes a very interesting tract about the "two ways," of life and death.

 

[5solas]

Have a look here: http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/churchfathers.html

God bless!

 

[ClementofRome]

Having spent much time in the Didache and the other Apostolic Fathers, I believe that it is a trustworthy document as far as information about the mid-late first century church, but it is by no means inspired as with the Scriptures of the New Testament.

It is a really good read. Check out the humorous comments on baptism!

 

[Ioustinos]

Having spent much time in the Didache and the other Apostolic Fathers, I believe that it is a trustworthy document as far as information about the mid-late first century church, but it is by no means inspired as with the Scriptures of the New Testament.

It is a really good read. Check out the humorous comments on baptism!

I didn't believe it was inspired as Scripture but it was my understanding that it was viewed by most as a reliable, historical document of some of the practices of the early church.

My friend made the claim that the Didache was associated with the Gnostic documents and that it was sacerdotalist, which was something I had not heard before. So I was curious as to others responses.

Thanks

 

[QuantaCura]

and that it was sacerdotalist, which was something I had not heard before.

I'm not sure if this is what is meant by sacerdotalist, but it did view the Eucharist as a sacrifice (specifically the one prophecied in Malachi 1:11). This is the Catholic view, but it goes against the Reformed view. So, depending on whose side you're arguing, you can go with that or not

"Assemble on the Lord’s day, and break bread and offer the Eucharist; but first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be a pure one. Anyone who has a difference with his fellow is not to take part with you until he has been reconciled, so as to avoid any profanation of your sacrifice [Matt. 5:23–24]. For this is the offering of which the Lord has said, ‘Everywhere and always bring me a sacrifice that is undefiled, for I am a great king, says the Lord, and my name is the wonder of nations’ [Mal. 1:11, 14]" (Didache 14 [A.D. 70]).

 

[lmnop9876]

I'm not sure if this is what is meant by sacerdotalist, but it did view the Eucharist as a sacrifice (specifically the one prophecied in Malachi 1:11). This is the Catholic view, but it goes against the Reformed view. So, depending on whose side you're arguing, you can go with that or not

"Assemble on the Lord’s day, and break bread and offer the Eucharist; but first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be a pure one. Anyone who has a difference with his fellow is not to take part with you until he has been reconciled, so as to avoid any profanation of your sacrifice [Matt. 5:23–24]. For this is the offering of which the Lord has said, ‘Everywhere and always bring me a sacrifice that is undefiled, for I am a great king, says the Lord, and my name is the wonder of nations’ [Mal. 1:11, 14]" (Didache 14 [A.D. 70]).

Eucharist = thanksgiving. the Lord's Supper is a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. offer the Eucharist = offer praise and thanksgiving. the sacrifice that is referred to is not necessarily one of resacrificing Christ, but may refer to the Lord's Supper as an offering both of ourselves and of thanksgiving.

 

[arunma]

I've read the Didache. For whatever reason, the early church didn't canonize it (too bad, since it would have solved a lot of doctrinal issues), so God must not have inspired this document. While we certainly should not form any doctrines around the Didache which can't be substantiated with Scripture, I think that it certainly would not hurt to use it as a guide for religious practice.

By the way, did anyone notice that the Didache specifically condemns abortion? Most people think that this is some modern issue, but I was surprised to discover that it was an issue in the early church too.

 

[QuantaCura]

the sacrifice that is referred to is not necessarily one of resacrificing Christ, but may refer to the Lord's Supper as an offering both of ourselves and of thanksgiving.

I want to make sure I don't debate here... ...but I just want to clarify: the Catholic view also consists of offering ourselves and thanksgiving and adoration, along with the the once and for all sacrifice that is re-presented (the only truly pure oblation). Resacrificing and re-presenting the one sacrifice is an important difference. Haha, I realize you'll probably still disagree, but let's just make sure you're disagreeing with the appropriate understanding. Ok, that's it.

 

[QuantaCura]

By the way, did anyone notice that the Didache specifically condemns abortion? Most people think that this is some modern issue, but I was surprised to discover that it was an issue in the early church too.

Oh yeah, abortion goes way back.

 

[arunma]

Oh yeah, abortion goes way back.

Yes, I guessed that abortion was always a human practice. My point was that I was surprised to see it condemned in the early church. Many people accuse Christians in America of using the issue of abortion to sway people into voting Republican (which, you can tell from my political icon, is not true of this pro-lifer). But I was pleasantly surprised to learn from the Didache that Christians have condemned this vile practice from the beginning. Indeed, the text is an excellent resource to learn about the practices of the early church.

 

[JM]

...

 

[abacabb3]

Why was this resurrected?